Democrats are trying to figure out whether Barak Obama, who has attracted so many independent votes in the primaries, will be able to garner the same support in the general elections. The Washington Post, for example, is running stories with titles like “Obama's Red-State Prospects Unclear; Democrat's Support May Have Limits” and “Could Obama Turn Red States Blue?” That being the case, it might be interesting for WhirledView readers to learn the current thinking of a New Mexico independent who voted for Hillary Clinton. Elizabeth Trickey is an attorney who practices in Santa Fe.
It’s Not Too Late to Vote for Hillary,
or Another Independent for McCain
By Elizabeth Trickey
The conservative pundits on TV have had that ‘cat that just swallowed a canary’ look lately…fat and happy. And why shouldn’t they be? It seems their plan has panned out. First they, and other conservative media representatives, spread the idea that Hillary had “too much baggage” to win. What was the baggage? Bill Clinton, arguably the most popular politician in both the 20th and 21st century. Then, in a Democratic field filled with legitimate, experienced candidates well tempered in the fire of the American political scene, they let it be known that their most feared candidate was Barack Obama.
Barack Obama? A guy with only a three year track record at the federal level, and before that as a state representative? The man known to have the most liberal voting record in the Senate. A man with a catchy slogan, “Yes We Can,” but no evidence of a plan for what that might be. In contrast, Hilary Clinton, has proven to be measured in her responses, extremely well-informed and statesmanlike. She’s in the middle of the road, like the rest of America, and she works well with her colleagues in the Senate. Even many upstate Republicans like her now. So to what can we attribute her latest losses? Perhaps to a media that likes Obama’s sound bites rather than her substance. Or one that fell for the conservatives’ line.
What has her biggest crime been to date? Not divorcing Bill? Could it be that staying married under very difficult circumstances might represent a strong mainstream Christian response, or even true love and forgiveness? Hmmm! Wouldn’t that appeal to the very conservatives so desperately courted by McCain, whose own marital past is a potential minefield of difficulties?
Hillary has been attacked with stated fears that her presidency would simply be a third term for Bill. Sure, a re-elected, successful Senator from New York, top of her class from Wellesley, Yale Law graduate when a very small percentage of that class were women would cede her presidency to her husband!
So what are we seeing here? Perhaps a vast right wing conspiracy to manipulate the Democrats into running what, after the disastrous Bush Administration, is the only Democrat that could lose? Or is it just more evidence of the glass ceiling which prevents women from leaving the pink collar world for the boardrooms? It's said that this election isn’t about gender or race, to which I have to say, “Oh, yeah?” African-Americans are choosing Obama at a rate of something like 80%- 85% range. And who else? White men. And the last group, one that pains me most, is young women. Those too young to know that they will grow up to hit the same ceiling when their turn comes unless they get behind the one candidate with an unimpeachable record, the experience and maturity to lead our great nation in these troubled times. The one that can truly make this nation work for the majority. Now that would be change!
I have no doubt that Hillary Clinton’s presidency would look out for all Americans equally, but her election would change things for women exponentially. Obama’s campaign has proven that race is no longer the obstacle it once was, and that gender remains the greater political problem. In fact, with his highly privileged background as a former Harvard Law Review editor, I view him as indistinguishable from some equally inexperienced white guy. He’s not ready. The Republicans know it, and they will attack him with everything Clinton’s campaign has left unsaid.
The last time we sent a Democrat president to Washington with a proud claim to being a Beltway outsider, Jimmy Carter was nearly ridden out of town on a rail after a one-term, largely ineffective administration.
So where does this leave me? If Hillary is not the Democratic candidate, I’ll be just another independent for McCain. Like me, he’s moderate, so moderate in fact that his name was bruited about as a good candidate for the DEMOCRATIC Vice-Presidency in the last election. Obviously, he plays well with others and would work well with both parties in Congress. Yes, his stance on the war troubles me, but I know he didn’t take it for political gain. It was considered political suicide when he announced it, before the surge in Iraq started to work. His forthright support for campaign finance reform, business reforms and the like make him entirely attractive, and trustworthy. The contrast with Obama could not be clearer. We know who John McCain is, as we do Hillary Clinton.
A choice between McCain and Clinton would be a fight among equals, with the choice coming down to real issues like their plans for Iraq. A choice between McCain and Obama will be a choice between a polished political statesman, and a neophyte. But, it’s not too late, fellow Independents and Democrats. We can make the right choice, an electable candidate who deserves the credit for what she’s done, not blame for her husband’s conduct. Yes we can. Get behind her, and we can make real changes for America.